~ insanitybytes

Should Christians Carry Guns?

Should Christians carry guns? I’ve heard that question posed with genuine sincerity several times recently, both on the internet and on the ground, so I shall attempt to tackle it and embiggen the discussion.

First let me say Christians, meaning the body of Christ, are composed of many parts. There are hearts, heads, hands, feet, all having different skills and abilities, all having worth and value. So just posing the question, “should Christians carry guns,” kind of implies that we shouldn’t. Well, perhaps some of us shouldn’t, but others should do as their conscience tells them, as God leads them.

There is nothing I can see in scripture that implies it is wrong to be armed. The disciples had swords and my favorite, Peter, actually once lopped off a man’s ear. It is not that Peter’s actions were wrong, it was that his timing was off, as was his obedience. I love Peter, I share his heart sometimes, as in “I can just fix this situation right now!” Peter is pragmatic, practical, matter of fact, as in, not always a big fan of theoretical considerations.

There has been a push within the culture lately to try to imply that Christians must always love their enemies, turn the other cheek, never judge anyone, nor defend ourselves. I’m not buying it. Complete pacifism can be a noble pursuit, but it isn’t a calling for everyone nor is it a scriptural mandate. God is not a pacifist, forgiving and merciful for sure, but not a pacifist. Jesus Christ Himself once went into the temple throwing over tables and chasing people out with a whip. So forget the cultural messages, as usual the culture is often wrong.

Many people around the world are kind of fascinated by America’s gun culture, and I think they believe we eat bacon and bullets for breakfast. I didn’t grow up that way however, guns were just a fact of life, always for hunting, protecting yourself from bears and cougars, and really just a tool used to provide provision and protection for your family. To give you an indication of how much things have changed, kids used to drive trucks to school complete with rifles in racks. Nobody ever thought anything of it. Young kids had BB guns and older kids were given rifles. It wasn’t like an old Western at all, no gun fights at sunset. Surprisingly little violence anywhere, or perhaps not so surprising at all, since everyone was armed.

It’s somewhat amusing, but for such a blue state, we are still heavily armed here. People have some powerful stereotypes and misconceptions, some assuming that only the South is armed and Texas, for sure. Always Texas. People don’t think about the North much, but a few times in Alaska, I had the thought, I wonder if anybody is NOT armed here? I remember going into a laundry mat to get quarters and the girl behind the counter was armed.

Our cities that see the most gun violence are heavily armed too, although perhaps not legally because cities that have the highest number of gun crimes often also tend to have the highest number of gun restrictions. I know, it’s a cliché, but guns don’t cause violence, people do.

I was giving some thought to protection, provision the other day, listening to one of our infamous celebrities….surrounded by armed bodyguards. That kind of self-deception and dishonesty is so typical. “I am totally against guns,” said rather tearfully while standing behind the biggest guns you can buy. People need to be honest with themselves. At the first sign of trouble what do people do? We often call the cops, those we pay to carry guns. You can’t be lamenting the alleged immorality of self-defense as if your hands are clean…while availing yourself of someone elses willingness to protect you.

Anders Breivik always comes to mind when I think of the gun debate. Breivik was a Norwegian terrorist who detonated a bomb and then went to an island and shot 69 people at a youth league summer camp. What I will never forget are the stories of the first responders, those forced to stand by helplessly waiting for the guns to arrive. It took more than an hour for him to shoot 69 people. The horror of what it must have been like for the people who wanted so badly to save lives but couldn’t do a darn thing has stuck with me.

I think we could safely say that there is a sound moral argument to be made for taking responsibility, for the moral implications around creating a culture that makes it possible for people to save lives, their own and the lives of others.

Because someone on the intertoobz implied that I don’t take gun violence seriously or perhaps I live a sheltered life, my grandma was shot and killed after picking up some hitch hikers. I was present at a robbery in a grocery store before the cops shot one of the guys right in front of me. A guy I once cared about blew his head off.

I’ve seen some gun violence but in spite of it, how I really feel about living in America is protected and safe in away I wouldn’t feel anywhere else in the world. That is mostly due to the fact that there are people willing to stand up and take responsibility for protecting others and a Constitution that still grants us that right.

Share this:

Like this:

Post navigation

28 thoughts on “Should Christians Carry Guns?”

Here is my stance on this issue, and it’s not even popular among my fellow believers.

I own some guns. I am pretty proficient with their use and safety. I don’t have a fixation on them, it just is what it is. It’s part of what this country was founded on, and again is what it is. Our constitution does guarantee the right of citizens to be armed, and that seems pretty self evident.

On the other hand, and this is where me and my fellows part ways somewhat. I don’t oppose reasonable safeguards on gun ownership to at try to prevent some folks from being armed.The truth is, not everybody needs to have access to weapons. One might even make a good case that not all types of weapons are for individual use. But, that debate is not really my point.

My actual point is, my stance on guns and my faith have absolutely no relationship to my faith, and are not part of it. I can be for full and free access to guns, and still be a Christian. Most importantly, the opposite is true as well, Contrary to what some folks I happen to be good friend with would say, I can also support a different stance and be every bit as much a Christian as them.

Wally,
I used to do some work in the weapons industry, and also have carried them. Contrary to what some believe, the gun laws in the US (except for NYC and DC) are really not that restrictive compared to other countries. Even California, which has a lot of restrictions and legal hoops for gun owners, is less restrictive than Canada or Mexico. Actually, in California, a gun owner is probably in more danger of violent injury from the anti-gun whackos than he is from another gun owner. The angry mobs of violent anti-gun protestors drove the last gun store out of San Francisco recently; much to the delight of the organized crime syndicates who run the Bay Area.

Eric, I have to agree. We are what we are in this country, and I love her. But, by inclination we as an American culture are just geared I think to some violence. Pioneer, don’t mess with me spirit LOL. If the guns got taken away, we would likely use sticks on each other.

Of course, Jesus could solve a lot of that, if only folks would let Him

I carried a gun for 20 years-part of my job. I was proficient. But the day I retired, I turned my gun in and haven’t held one since. Thankfully, I never had to use it nor did anyone try to shoot me. I had colleagues shot, killed and some had to return fire and killed the perpetrator. I was sworn in to defend the constitution. When people questioned me as to how could I do this job as a “Christian” I simply took them to the Bible, Romans 13:1-5 “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.”

Very sad, Eric. I remember a story about a couple of bad guys who just went through a village house by house executing people. Totally unarmed people who were completely helpless. Sometimes this country of ours irritates me, but on the other hand I’m really grateful because it would be very unusual for something like that to happen in America. By the third house, you’d have people shooting back at you.

Before the war, Syria’s gun laws were actually pretty lenient. The problem over there was that most people couldn’t afford one. Buying a gun here to defend your home might cost a couple hundred dollars, but for a working-class Syrian, that was about 2-3 months’ wages.

The short answer ms bytes on whether believers should carry, is yes and no. If a person is afraid of a screwdriver, I would say ‘no.’ But to someone who is familiar with hand tools, the following reference (which I shamelessly borrowed from myself) may apply:

—Having an understanding of sin and the possible depraved acts of man, guided by the right to defend life and property puts a person in a good position to guard that which God has entrusted. The very best of arms are they unused but available.–

“Having an understanding of sin and the possible depraved acts of man…”

Yes, that one always gets me too! There’s a pretty good moral argument to be made for us actually having a responsibility to protect human life. Justice is also a Christian value and it isn’t exactly moral and just to stand by when you have the means to act.

The statistics are on the side of the progressives, so I’m not too optimistic about the future. Thing is, you have the statistics for how many people die from guns, but you don’t have the statistics for how many lives are saved by guns. You can’t measure that, not until you take the guns away and by that time it’ll be too late.

But as for the moral question of carrying a gun, I agree with you. Turning the other cheek never meant to be completely pacifistic.

:>) Luke22:36 36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
Number one with a bullet – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pELwCqz2JfE
Any further questions? check out my category tab “2nd amendment” on PWE. ‘Nuff said.

My first reaction is sadness. You have witnessed a disproportionate amount of horror for one life. I’m constantly moved by the brokenness of this world and long for the day when the lion will rest with the lamb. Until then, this shepherd will protect his flock.

Ah, you’re very kind to feel sad, but I got to tell you some of those horrors are the same things that sent me fleeing headfirst right into our Savior’s arms. There is no better place in all the world to be. I have been blessed beyond measure. 🙂

I say give ’em the biggest guns they can carry. All the better to fight for Jesus. Shoot them some Muslims. Betcha Trump would give ’em a medal – so much per head. 😀 Yee Hah! You could have a cartoon drawing contest of Mohammed = lots o fun, and the perfect chance to defend Christ when the Muslims arrive. Shoot ’em up – Bang! Bang! Secure your spot in heaven for ridding the world of the heathens.

Ahhh, peace and Christians interesting topic IB I’m not sure it can be addressed with a yes or no to carrying guns. Guns need to be carried when guns need to be carried. If you live in rural northern Canada or northern US – you would be a fool not to carry – too many things that will eat you. All first responders should carry, military should carry, etc. Personally, I think the vast majority of Christians have the wrong idea of what “peace” means in Biblical terms. Contrary to common belief i do not think it means no violence or no fighting. In fact even Christ said about his coming: “They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” Luke 12:53 No, Christ did not come to stop fighting on Earth, he came to bring Peace. Quite literally Christ brought the ability and even right for humans to have peace in the soul – to be one with God and totality. It feels as if eternal peace is a spot light shining down from God in heaven and we now have the ability to stand in this light and see the world from the perspective of unity and peace and Godliness. And to get that Godly peace reproduced here on Earth,it sometimes requires picking up a gun and shooting someone – no kidding, true story. In defense from aggressors, in war, for protection – as an obscure example when precious religious items are moved they are accompanied by armed guards. No, peace is a state of mind enabled by Christ’s gift to humanity, it is not the lack of violence. So I have no problem with Christians carrying guns when it is appropriate. I object loudly when guns are used not for protection but rather to further an agenda of hate and prejudice- such as the example I gave tongue-in-cheek at the beginning. Thought I’d finally cracked dind ya?

As an outsider to both Christianity and the US gun culture, I have to agree with you up to a point. It seems to me that demanding Christianity is a pacifist religion is a blatant hypocricy. Even already in ancient Rome three major Christian sects rose to political power mainly through the use of military force. Before that it was just one cult among others and divided into dozens of sects even at that. It was a new kind of religious fanaticism, that caused Roman empire to turn into Christian. There was hardly any competition as most of the other Roman religions were polytheistic. After the Roman empire was Christened as a result of series of bloody civil wars and political murders the rest of Europe it spread mostly through conquest and forced alliances. The most central historical reason why Christianity is today the most widespread religion in the world is almost totally based on violence and weapons. All of Americas, most of Africa and a wide strecth of Asia did not simply become settled by Christians, they were conquered by Christians with their guns. Historically, violence is an essential part of the success of Christianity. To deny that heritage is both moronic, but also shows a level of denial.

As for US gun culture, it seems to me to be terribly irresponsible. We have more guns (most of them for hunting) per capita here in Finland than you in the US, but they are regulated and laws about their handling and storage are strict. We also have far fewer gun related violence nor deaths per capita. Infact, even our police rarely discharges their weapons, but unlike in Norway, they are armed all the time. For about some five million people our police force only shoots once or twice a year and even then rarely other than to give out warning shots. Naturally there are other explaining factors. There is less desperation as our society is not so economically divided as yours and we have far more movement between social classes as the poor have much more opportunities for social rise. Despite the “American dream” there is less social movement in the US, than in most other western countries (so little from the poorest classes, that it almost equals none at all). We have a mandatory military service system wich has taught by far most gun owners a safe weapons conduct. We have a highly educated and functional police force. Our police officers have to have served in the military and then pass a three year education, while some of your US police only get some six months course for the job.

If I lived in the US, I might not rely on your inneficient police enough and propably would buy a gun just to keep me safe. But then again, I have served in the military and have the training how to use guns both effectively and safely. If anyone here would utter aloud, that they want to own a gun for protection here, they would generally be considered certifiable, or at very least very sad and insecure indeed.

I used to just take guns as a fact of life and generally supported the right to bear arms although I can’t claim to have been much of an activist for it or anything beyond occasional forays into the public discourse. Now I’ve discovered that I actually really like shooting. As a sport, shooting works way better than a punching bag for me for blowing off steam. So now I have a bit more personal connection, reasoning, and appreciation for guns in addition to a political respect. I’ve been hoping and praying to get to move to another state. Looking up the gun laws for concealed carry and the local opportunities to buy a membership at a range are on my list of research I need to do.